My name is McKaela Smith, and I currently attend Arizona State University.  I am pursuing a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology.

Since April of my senior year, I have constantly and consistently been asked "Why ASU?" by my family, relatives, friends, colleagues, teachers, professors, government, and, practically, nation leaders. Arizona State University would provide me with a variety of options in terms of majors, minors, and certificates. Throughout senior year, I changed my desired major from theatre to archeology to chemistry to both theatre and chemistry to biotechnology and finally to biochemistry. Suffice to say, I was extremely unsure of my decided major going into college. Thus, I wanted to have a wide variety available for me in the college of my choice. Finally, at the end of my first semester of college, I switched majors to Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology, focusing more on genetics, proteins, and cellular biology.

Born and raised in Everett, Washington, I attended Cascade High School for four years. While there, I participated in a variety of extracurricular activities such as Drama Club, French Club, Book Club, ASL Club, the Girl's Swimming and Diving team, and National Honors Society. Among the mass of extra work, I constantly took challenging AP, college in the high school, and honors courses, while still achieving a G.P.A. of 3.87. 

Many of the aspects of my life have, no doubt, been influenced by my parents and siblings. From the get-go, my parents have expected near perfection from me: perfect manners, perfect grades, perfect attendance, perfect everything. Thus, this heavily influenced my lifestyle. For instance, back in middle school, my older sister got a perfect 4.0. When it came to me, however, the best I did was a 3.9. I was devastated with my G.P.A. and I was worried and slightly scared to disappoint my parents. This same feeling carried over everything in my life. Now, I always strive to do the best I can do in order to avoid disappointing my parents, my sisters, my teachers, and, most importantly, myself. 

Aside from the multiple trials I have faced throughout my life, I have a fantastic life. I have two wonderful sisters who are each three years apart from me (older sister-22, me-19, younger sister-16) and who are complete goofballs. My parents both work for Boeing and continue to support me in everything I do. Finally, my wonderful Siberian Husky dog, Tikanni, whom I love to the moon and back.

**The header picture: Crater Lake (Crater Lake, Oregon) Picture taken by myself**